Walking
The
Sentier Cathare and GR7, two of the best known long distance walks in
France pass our door. The Route Du Pays De Sault (West) is just a few
kilometres away. Details of these famous routes can be found by
visiting the official site of the small town of Quillan so are not repeated here. They represent just a small fraction of the outstanding walking available in this area.
Our families favourite
walks are probably the labyrinth at Nebias and Rocher De Scaramus.
The
labyrinth is a naturally formed meandering path well
signed through rocks and trees which provides endless interest for
children and makes a lovely half day outing, either after a long
journey
to the Region, or in the middle of the Puivert-Nebias-Puivert round
trip. The degree of difficulty is easy but fun.
Two
trips to Rocher De Scaramus (1868m) stick in my mind. On one, with
friends also with small children we drove up forest paths to about 1550
metres and stopped by a small water outlet before lighting a fire and
eating very well. Afterwards full of wine and good humour we set off
for the summit in warm spring sunshine, some went all the way,
some just as far as they wanted but one of those on the top was little
Thea just three years old. The views are sensational from the top with
Pic Fourcat and the whole range of the Montagne De Tabe in the North
East and Andorra and the high Pyrenee in the south.
Another day Ann and I
with two friends traced the same path. It was May but snow covered the
ground at that height and as we
stopped for lunch in the lee of a rock cliff it began to fall afresh
quite heavily. Whilst we sat there, quietly admiring the landscape, 2
chamois skipped happily along the ridge and neither saw nor heard us
until 150 feet way. They stopped, studied us closely and
wandered on their way totally at ease. My closest experience
with these lovely gentle animals. After lunch, as we climbed, the sun
broke through and quickly warmed everything up. Degree of
difficulty, moderate depending on the weather.
Our
regular walking customers have tried a variety of
routes. I'm guessing that the core members would have Pech Du Bugarach
(1230m) on their list of favourite tops. All things to all men,
Bugarach provides a variety of walks on different terrain with a
refreshment station at the finish. Refreshment is important here
because walks rarely take in a
refreshment station and in summer most water courses will be dry. Ask
our advice please. From the top of Bugarach a long line of the
Pyrenees is visible starting from Canigou down on the Mediterranean
and extending well beyond Andorra. Bugarach has walks moderate to hard
depending on choice of routes.
A
lot of my walking has been done with a small group of friends where
often the
quality of the picnic can be as significant as the walking challenge
for that day. With various members of this group however I have made 2
attempts at Mont Kalm (3077m), though sadly in each case beaten back by
bad weather. Starting from l'Artique and overnighting at the Refuge du
Pinet this is a hard climb due to the length and largely unremitting
steepness. To get to within 15 minutes of the summit and be turned back
by bad weather was disappointing. Starting from Etang de
Soulcem,
Mont Kalm is an
extreme walk. Looking back up from the lake after descending it was
impossible to believe a path actually existed where we had
descended.
Au
Petit Verger welcomes groups of ramblers for whom guiding and support
is available, and also passing walkers following the Sentier Cathare
and in each case we look forward
to being of assistance.
